Wednesday, January 13, 2010 - DECEMBER 2009 LANZAROTE REPORT
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
On December 2009, two new species were added to our list: African Swamphen (1 bird seen by J. Sagardía and F. J. García Vargas at Tías golf course on 31/XII. This is the same bird captured, ringed and released into the wild at Gran Canaria on October 2009. The bird has remained at the same place until at least 02/I/2010. A special photopage of this rarity can be seen here). The second addition was Brambling (2 birds seen by J. Sagardía on 7 and 8/XII at Teguise golf course. At least one bird have been seen by the same observer near Teguise golf course in January 2010).
About other rarities, the Greater Flamingo has remained at Janubio salt pans until January 2010, the 2 Greater Scaups at Tías golf course remained there until 01/XII (F. J. García Vargas), 1 Grey Phalarope was seen on a pelagic trip to sea at North of the island on 06/XII, and Yellow-browed Warblers have been at Uga, where 2 birds were seen on 05/XII and at least 1 on 08/XII (J. Sagardía), detecting 1 on 29/XII (F. J. García Vargas). We have been informed by Jyri Heino about the presence of two birds calling at the same time in gardens at Uga on 27/XII, writing me what follows:
“Sunday morning 27.12 I was driving to the Janubio-ponds and did a short stop
at Uga. After an hour I had seen and heard two (2) Yellow-Browed Warblers.
Both birds were at the same side (SE) of the village and quite near (200m)
each other, but after several checking I am sure there was 2 birds.”
We would like to thank Jyri Heino for this information.
About rare and scarce migrants, 3 Black-necked Grebes were seen at Janubio on 08/XII (J. Sagardía) and 4 birds at the same place on 29/XII (F. J. García Vargas), 1 Great Shearwater was seen on the pelagic trip to sea at North of the island on 06/XII, 1 Great Cormorant was seen by J. Sagardía near El Golfo on 06/XII, Eurasian Spoonbill (8 birds (the highest number ever seen) at Órzola on 06/XII and 3 birds at La Santa on 08/XII (J. Sagardía), where 2 birds were observed on 30/XII (F. J. García Vargas), 1 Eurasian Wigeon at Tías golf course until 20/XII (F. J. García Vargas and J. Sagardía), Common Teal (1 bird at Tías golf course until 10/XII and 2 birds at Janubio salt pans on 08/XII, remaining one there on 29/XII), Common Coot (2 birds at Tías golf course until 20/XII and only 1 bird there since 27/XII, staying there in January 2010), the Eurasian Oystercatcher staying all month at Janubio, Little Ringed Plover at Tías golf course, European Golden Plover (the bird at Órzola was seen again by J. Sagardía on 06/XII), Red Knot at La Santa, Ruff at Los Cocoteros salt pans, Eurasian Curlew (1 bird seen at Arrecife on 07/XII), 1 Arctic Skua and 1 Great Skua were seen on the pelagic trip to sea at North of the island on 06/XII, the Common Gull at Arrecife has been there until January 2010, Red-throated Pipit (a group of between 6 and 8 birds have been observed at Tías golf course, staying there into January 2010), the Stonechat at Tías golf course remained there until 15/XII, 1 Ring Ouzel was at Los Valles on 06/XII (J. Sagardía) and Common Chaffinch (5 birds seen by J. Sagardía at Teguise golf course on 07 and 08/XII).
DECEMBER 2009 COMPLETE LIST
Black-necked Grebe
Great Shearwater
Great Cormorant
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Eurasian Spoonbill
Eurasian Spoonbill-Platalea leucorodia-Espátula Común
Órzola. Photo: J. Sagardía
Greater Flamingo
Eurasian Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon-Anas penelope-Silbón Europeo
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Eurasian Wigeon-Anas penelope-Silbón Europeo (with Common Teal)
Saturday, January 2, 2010 - THE AFRICAN SWAMPHEN AT TÍAS GOLF COURSE, FIRST FOR LANZAROTE
by Juan Sagardía Pradera and Francisco Javier García Vargas
On 31/XII J. Sagardía detected an African Swamphen Phorphyrio (porphyrio) madagascariensis at Tías golf course. He immediately phoned me and I was there ten minutes later. The bird was so tame and we could obtain a good number of pictures of it.
Since the first time, J. Sagardía saw that the bird was ringed and we think that it is, without any doubt, the same bird collected very exhausted at Gran Canaria on 02/X/09, brought to a recovery center where it was ringed and released into the wild at Charca de Maspalomas (south of Gran Canaria) on 25/X/09. Details about the Gran Canaria record (First for Spain) can be seen here and here.
The bird was relocated at the same place on 01/I (A. Unquiles Cobos) and 02/I (J. Sagardía).
This is the first record of this species for Lanzarote.
Sunday, December 13, 2009 - NOVEMBER 2009 LANZAROTE REPORT
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
On November 2009, one new species has been added to our list: Common Gull (1 1st w. bird at Arrecife between 09 and 24/XI and probably staying there in December (F. J. García Vargas).
About rarities, the most remarkable was: Red-billed Tropicbird (1 first year bird seen from Arrecife coast flying south on 14/XI (F. J. García Vargas). This is our second personal record of this species in Lanzarote. The Greater Flamingo has remained at Janubio salt pans into December (F. J. García Vargas). 2 Greater Scaups were observed at Tías golf course between 21/XI and 01/XII (F. J. García Vargas), beeing our second record of this species for the island. 1 1st w. Mediterranean Gull has been observed at Arrecife between 09 and 21/XI and probably remaining there in December (F. J. García Vargas). At least 1 Yellow-browed Warbler has been present at Uga on 02, 03, 19 and 26/XI (F. J. García Vargas), but early December observations made by J. Sagardía could indicate that two birds are present at Uga gardens.
About scarce migrants, 1 1st year Northern Gannet was observed at Puerto del Carmen on 12/XI and other bird (or the same?) at Arrecife on 18 and 21/XI (F. J. García Vargas), 4 Eurasian Spoonbills were seen at Órzola on 03/XI and 3 birds at the same place on 25/XI (F. J. García Vargas), 1 Eurasian Wigeon was present at Tías golf course since 03 and 26/XI (F. J. García Vargas) and a new bird arrived at the same place on 30/XI staying there in December (F. J. García Vargas and J. Sagardía). 2 Common Teals were at Tías golf course between 09 and 26/XI (F. J. García Vargas) and 1 Eurasian Marsh Harrier was observed at Janubio on 13/XI (F. J. García Vargas). 3 Common Coots were at Tías golf course until 04/XI (F. J. García Vargas), staying 2 there into December (F. J. García Vargas and J. Sagardía). 1 Eurasian Oystercatcher was seen at Janubio on 30/XI (F. J. García Vargas), Little-ringed Plover at Tías golf course, the European Golden Plover at Órzola has remained there until December (F. J. García Vargas and J. Sagardía), 2 Red Knots and 1 Curlew Sandpiper were detected at La Santa on 20/XI (F. J. García Vargas), the Ruff at Los Cocoteros salt pans has stayed there until December and 2 Common Snipes were observed roosting on reefs at Arrecife on 23/XI (F. J. García Vargas). Some Red-throated Pipits have been seen all month at Tías golf course staying there in December (F. J. García Vargas and J. Sagardía), 1 Grey Wagtail at Tías golf course too and 1 Stonechat has been at Tías golf course since 02/XI until December (F. J. García Vargas and J. Sagardía), 2 were present at La Santa on 02/XI (J. Sagardía) and 1 bird was seen at the same place on 20/XI (F. J. García Vargas).
NOVEMBER 2009 COMPLETE LIST
Red-billed Tropicbird
Northern Gannet
Northern Gannet-Morus bassanus-Alcatraz Atlántico
Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Northern Gannet-Morus bassanus-Alcatraz Atlántico
Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Eurasian Spoonbill
Greater Flamingo
Eurasian Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon-Anas penelope-Silbón Europeo
Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Eurasian Wigeon-Anas penelope-Silbón Europeo
Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Common Teal
Common Teal-Anas crecca-Cerceta Común
Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Greater Scaup
Greater Scaup-Aythya marila-Porrón Bastardo
Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Greater Scaup-Aythya marila-Porrón Bastardo
Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Greater Scaup-Aythya marila-Porrón Bastardo
Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Greater Scaup-Aythya marila-Porrón Bastardo
Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Greater Scaup-Aythya marila-Porrón Bastardo
Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Greater Scaup-Aythya marila-Porrón Bastardo
Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Eurasian Marsh Harrier
Common Kestrel
Barbary Falcon
Common Coot
Houbara Bustard
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Black-winged Stilt
Stone-curlew
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
European Golden Plover
Grey Plover
Red Knot
Sanderling
Curlew Sandpiper
Dunlin
Ruff
Common Snipe
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Common Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Mediterranean Gull
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Common Gull-Larus canus-Gaviota Cana
Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Common Gull-Larus canus-Gaviota Cana
Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Common Gull-Larus canus-Gaviota Cana
Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Sandwich Tern
Eurasian Collared Dove
Laughing Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet
Hoopoe
Lesser Short-toed Lark
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Berthelot´s Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
White Wagtail
European Robin
Black Redstart
Black Redstart-Phoenicurus ochruros-Colirrojo Tizón
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - OCTOBER 2009 LANZAROTE REPORT
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
On October 2009, two new species have been added to our list: Great Shearwater (1 bird seen on a pelagic trip to the North of the island on 31/X) and Leach´s Storm Petrel (2 birds seen the same day on the same trip).
About rarities, the Greater Flamingo has remained at Janubio into November and 1 Yellow-browed Warbler was detected at Uga on 22/X. I suspected the presence of 2 birds at the same garden on 23/X when I saw a second bird that I could not confirm it was another Yellow-browed Warbler. Finally, on 25/X, J. Sagardía could observe two birds and confirm my suspicions. At least one of the birds has remained at Uga until 2/XI and I have to confirm if it is still there.
Besides the excellent photos taken by J. Sagardía that we show in this entry (without any doubt the best pictures ever taken of this species in the Canary Islands), a special photopage of one of the birds can be seen here.
About scarce migrants, the most interesting was: Eurasian Spoonbill ((2 birds at La Santa and 4 at Órzola), Garganey (1 bird at Tías golf course between 14 and 24/X), Osprey (1 bird at Janubio salt pans between 7 and 18/X), Common Coot (3 birds at Tías golf course since 14/X, remaining two there into November), Eurasian Oystercatcher (1 bird staying at Janubio), Little Ringed Plover (2 birds at Tías golf course since 14/X and staying there in November and 2 birds at Los Cocoteros salt pans on 24/X), European Golden Plover (1 bird at Órzola on 22/X), Northern Lapwing (1 bird at Janubio on 18/X), Red Knot (3 birds at Órzola on 21/X and 1 bird at Janubio on 22/X), Ruffs at Tías golf course, Janubio and Los Cocoteros (the bird at Los Cocoteros remaining there in November), Common Snipe at Tías golf course, Green Sandpiper at Tías golf course too, Pomarine Skua (1 bird seen on the pelagic trip mentioned above), Arctic Skua (2 birds seen on the same trip), Sand Martin at Tías golf course, Tree Pipit (2 birds at Tías golf course on 28/X), Red-throated Pipit (2 birds at Tías golf course on 21/X and staying there into November), Grey Wagtails at Tías golf course, Arrecife and El Chafariz (near Tabayesco), Whinchat (1 bird at Haría on 17/X), Eurasian Reed Warbler (birds at Uga and Tías golf course) and Garden Warbler (1 bird at Uga on 18/X).
Monday, October 26, 2009 - A NEW YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER AT UGA-LANZAROTE
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
On 22/X, I detected a Yellow-browed Warbler at the village of Uga, in the south of Lanzarote.
The bird was inside of a little garden, very near of the garden where we saw another Yellow-browed Warbler in 2008 (a photopage of this bird can be seen here), spending most of the time in a lemon tree, being very elusive and hardly twitchable.
It was seen again at the same place on 23 and 25/X .
An European Robin, some Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps and Common Chiffchaffs were present in the same garden.
This is the third Yellow-browed Warbler that we have seen in Lanzarote in the last three years.
Is Yellow-browed Warbler an annual visitor to the Canary Islands?
Yellow-browed Warbler. Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Yellow-browed Warbler. Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Yellow-browed Warbler. Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Yellow-browed Warbler. Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Thursday, October 1, 2009 - SEPTEMBER 2009 LANZAROTE REPORT
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
On September 2009, we haven´t add new species to our list, but it has been a good month for regional rarities. In the first place, 2 Greater Flamingos were captured at Arrecife on 04/IX, one of them ringed and with a leg broken. The birds were delivered to the veterinary of the recovery center to be taken into care. A third bird was detected at Janubio salt pans the same day, seen there in my last visit to the salt pans on 29/IX and surely remaining there into October.
2 Mediterranean Gulls were seen at Janubio on 15/IX (F. J. García Vargas), 1 Grasshopper Warbler was seen at the same place on 09/IX (J. Sagardía & F. J. García Vargas) and 2 Ortolan Buntings were observed at Tías golf course between 09 and 12/IX (J. Sagardía, F. J. García Vargas and A. Unquiles Cobos).
About rare and scarce migrants, the most interesting was: White Stork (a flock of at least 20 birds was seen from Matagorda beach (Puerto del Carmen) on13/IX, flying from the sea to the inland (F. J. García Vargas), Eurasian Spoonbill (1 bird at Arrecife on 27/IX, 2 birds at Puerto del Carmen on 28/IX and 2 birds at La Santa on 30/IX (F. J. García Vargas), Montagu´s Harrier (1 bird at Los Valles on 17/IX (A. Unquiles Cobos), Spotted Crake (1 bird at Tías golf course on 16/IX and found dead there on 19/IX (F. J. García Vargas), Common Moorhen (1 bird found dead at Tías golf course on 29/IX), Common Coot (1 bird at Tías golf course on 12/IX, joined by a second bird between 19 and 21/IX, and again only 1 bird until at least 29/IX. Another bird was seen at Janubio salt pans on 15/IX (F. J. García Vargas), 1 Eurasian Oystercatcher has been all month at Janubio, Little Ringed Plovers have been seen at the farm at Famara plains, Tías golf course and Los Cocoteros salt pans, 1 European Golden Plover at Los Cocoteros on 24/IX (F. J. García Vargas), Red Knot at Janubio, 2 Curlew Sandpipers at Los Cocoteros, Ruffs at Janubio and Tías golf course, Common Snipes at Tías golf course and the farm at Famara plains, 2 Green Sandpipers at the farm at Famara and 4 at Janubio salt pans, 1 Wood Sandpiper at Janubio on 21/IX, Eurasian Wryneck (1 bird at Tías golf course on 10/IX (J. Sagardía, F. J. García Vargas & A. Unquiles Cobos), 1 bird at the same place between 25 and 30/IX (F. J. García Vargas) and 1 bird at Uga on 29/IX (F. J. García Vargas), 1 Tree Pipit at Tías golf course on 19/IX, 1 Grey Wagtail at the same place, Whinchat (1 bird at Yaiza and 1 bird at Uga on 29/IX), Eurasian Reed Warbler at Tías golf course and near Teguise golf course and 1 Woodchat Shrike at Tías golf course on 25/IX.
SEPTEMBER 2009 COMPLETE LIST
Cory´s Shearwater
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Grey Heron
White Stork
Eurasian Spoonbill
Eurasian Spoonbill. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Greater Flamingo
Greater Flamingo. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Greater Flamingo. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Greater Flamingo. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Greater Flamingo. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Montagu´s Harrier
Montagu´s Harrier. Los Valles. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Montagu´s Harrier. Los Valles. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Common Kestrel
Common Kestrel. Teguise golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Barbary Falcon
Spotted Crake
Spotted Crake. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Spotted Crake. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Common Coot. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Houbara Bustard
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Black-winged Stilt
Stone-curlew
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Kentish Plover. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
European Golden Plover
European Golden Plover. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
European Golden Plover. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Grey Plover
Red Knot
Sanderling
Curlew Sandpiper
Dunlin
Ruff
Common Snipe
Common Snipe. Farm at Famara plains. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Mediterranean Gull
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Sandwich Tern
Eurasian Collared Dove
Laughing Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet
Plain Swift
Pallid Swift
Hoopoe
Eurasian Wryneck
Eurasian Wryneck. Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Eurasian Wryneck. Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Eurasian Wryneck. Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Lesser Short-toed Lark
Barn Swallow
Berthelot´s Pipit
Tree Pipit
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
White Wagtail
Common Redstart
Whinchat
Northern Wheatear
Northern Wheatear. Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Grasshopper Warbler
Eurasian Reed Warbler
Eurasian Reed Warbler. Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Melodious Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Common Whitethroat
Willow Warbler
Spotted Flycatcher
Pied Flycatcher
Southern Grey Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Common Raven
Spanish Sparrow
Common Linnet
Trumpeter Finch
Ortolan Bunting
Ortolan Bunting. Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Ortolan Bunting. Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Ortolan Bunting. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Saturday, September 5, 2009 - JUNE-JULY-AUGUST 2009 LANZAROTE REPORT
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
In a summer without surprises, the most remarkable about June was the presence of Cattle Egrets nesting at the new site in Arrecife: a little "wooded" and fenced area next to the Cabildo building. It´s a good new after the destruction of the first nesting site at the sea avenue.
There is nothing to say about July, but August brought with it interesting observations. The most remarkable was a rarity for the Canary Islands: Orphean Warbler (1 bird that I saw at La Santa on 21/VIII. The bird was very shy and nervous and could only take a few record shots). This observation is framed inside a good (but short) passage of passerines over the island between 20 and 23/VIII when very good numbers of Melodious and Willow Warblers were seen. 1 Eurasian Reed Warbler was seen near Teguise golf course on 22/VIII, Western Bonelli´s Warblers were at Los Valles on 22/VIII, and 1 Woodchat Shrike at La Santa on 21/VIII.
Other Ausgust interesting observations include: Bulwer´s Petrel (2 birds that I saw at sea from Arrecife coast on 16/VIII), Purple Heron (2 birds at Janubio salt pans on 20/VIII), Eurasian Oystercatcher (the bird at Janubio was seen there on 14, 23 and 30/VIII), 1 Little Ringed Plover at Tías golf course, 1 Red Knot at Janubio on 30/VIII and 1 Ruff at the same place on 20/VIII.
JUNE-JULY-AUGUST 2009 COMPLETE LIST
Bulwer´s Petrel
Cory´s Shearwater
Cattle Egret
Cattle Egret (at nest). Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Cattle Egret (at nest). Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Common Kestrel
Barbary Falcon
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Black-winged Stilt
Little Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Grey Plover
Red Knot
Sanderling
Dunlin
Ruff
Whimbrel
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Common Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Yellow-legged Gull
Sandwich Tern
Eurasian Collared Dove
European Turtle Dove
Laughing Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet
Plain Swift
Pallid Swift
Hoopoe
Lesser Short-toed Lark
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Berthelot´s Pipit
Yellow Wagtail
Eurasian Reed Warbler
Melodious Warbler
Melodious Warbler. Farm at Famara plains. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Melodious Warbler. Farm at Famara plains. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Melodious Warbler. Farm at Famara plains. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Spectacled Warbler
Orphean Warbler
Orphean Warbler. La Santa. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Orphean Warbler. La Santa. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Common Whitethroat
Western Bonelli´s Warbler
Western Bonelli´s Warbler. Los Valles. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Willow Warbler
Willow Warbler. La Santa. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
On May 2009, two new species were added to our list: Sooty Shearwater (1 bird that I observed flying North from Arrecife coast on 26/V). The bird was seen at a good distance for the telescope and the silvery underwings were seen well. The second addition was Little Bittern (1 bird found exhausted at Puerto del Carmen on 19/V and delivered to the veterinary of the recovery center to be taken into care). I was informed by the veterinary about the catch of other exhausted bird at Tías the same day. This is the first XXI century record of Little Bittern for Lanzarote and there is only a previous record for all XX century: a skin of a bird collected in the island before 1919 that was in a private collection at Arrecife. So the pictures that we show here are the first taken of a bird alive in Lanzarote.
About rarities, the only remarkable was the presence of 2 Red-billed Tropicbirds near Los Ajaches coast until 02/V and we didn´t see the birds again since then.
About rare or scarce migrants, 15 Northern Gannets were seen from Arrecife coast on 26/V, 1 Black Kite was seen flying over Teguise golf course on 09/V , 1 Eurasian Oystercatcher at Janubio salt pans on 03 and 10/V, 1 Little Ringed Plover at Los Cocoteros salt pans on 21/V, 2 Little Stints at Los Cocoteros salt pans, 1 Great Skua at Arrecife on 26/V, one of the Gull-billed Terns at the Farm of Famara plains remained there until 01/V, a little flock of 7 or 8 Black Terns were seen on a pelagic trip near Montaña Clara on 01/V, 5 European Bee-eaters were seen at Uga on 03/V, some Red-rumped Swallows were at Famara plains on 01/V, 1 Tree Pipit was seen at Famara plains on 01/V and another bird was seen at Tías golf course on 10/V, 1 Whinchat at Famara plains on 01/V, 1 Western Bonelli´s Warbler was observed near Teguise golf course on 09/V, Eurasian Golden Oriole (1 bird at Puerto del Carmen on 01/V and 6 birds near Caleta de Famara the same day) and 2 Woodchat Shrikes were seen at Famara plains on 01/V.
MAY 2009 COMPLETE LIST
Cory´s Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
Red-billed Tropicbird
Red-billed Tropicbird. Los Ajaches. Photo: J. Sagardía
Northern Gannet
Little Bittern
Little Bittern. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Little Bittern. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Little Bittern. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Little Bittern. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Black Kite
Black Kite. Teguise. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Egyptian Vulture
Egyptian Vulture. Famara plains. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Common Kestrel
Eleonora´s Falcon
Barbary Falcon
Barbary Partridge
Houbara Bustard
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Black-winged Stilt
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Grey Plover
Sanderling
Sanderling. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
April 2009 started very bad, but we were able to finally add a new species to our list and that will undoubtedly be one of the most spectacular observations of the year: Red-billed Tropicbird (3 birds seen at Puerto del Carmen by Colin Guy, F. J. García Vargas and A. Unquiles Cobos on 26/IV. The birds remained there on 27 and 28/IV (F. J. García Vargas) and only 1 bird was seen there on 30/IV (F. J. García Vargas and J. Sagardía). On 28/IV, 2 birds were seen displaying by Colin Guy in a small cove on a cliff elsewhere on the island that at the moment we prefer to keep confidential, where the birds were seen until at least 02/V (J. Sagardía and M. Rouco). Besides the excellent pictures taken by A. Unquiles that we show in this report, a special photopage of the birds can be seen here).
About rare and scarce migrants, the most interesting was: Northern Gannet (birds were seen in good numbers from Arrecife coast on 17/IV), Eurasian Oystercatcher (1 bird at Janubio salt pans on 14 and 25/IV, remaining there until May), Collared Pratincole (1 bird I saw at Tías golf course on 24/IV), Little Ringed Plover (birds at Janubio and Los Cocoteros salt pans), Great Skua (1 bird seen from Arrecife coast on 17/IV), Gull-billed Tern (1 bird I saw in the farm at Famara plains on 25/IV and 2 birds seen at the same place by A. Unquiles on 26/IV), Wood Pigeon (2 birds that I observed near Teguise golf course on 03/IV), Sand Martin (1 bird at Puerto del Carmen13/IV) and Eurasian Golden Oriole (1 bird seen by J. Sagardía being pursued by a Barbary Falcon near Los Ajaches on 30/IV).
Also noteworthy was the spectacular passage of waders all over the Canary Islands that we detected since 24/IV, which involved spectacular numbers of Dunlins, Whimbrels, Common Redshanks and Common Greenshanks. Curlew Sadpipers were seen in good numbers too and with this passage, 1 Ruff was seen at the farm of Famara plains on 24, 25 and 26/IV, Green Sandpipers were seen at Tías golf course, the farm at Famara and Mala reservoir and 4 Wood Sandpipers at the farm on 24/IV.
APRIL 2009 COMPLETE LIST
Cory´s Shearwater
Red-billed Tropicbird
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Collared Pratincole. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Grey Plover
Sanderling
Little Stint
Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper (with Dunlins). Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Curlew Sandpiper (with Dunlins). Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Dunlin
Dunlin. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Ruff
Ruff (with Dunlins). Famara plains. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Great Skua
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Gull-billed Tern
Gull-billed Tern. Famara plains. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Gull-billed Tern. Famara plains. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Gull-billed Tern. Famara plains. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Gull-billed Tern. Famara plains. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Gull-billed Tern. Famara plains. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Gull-billed Tern. Famara plains. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Sandwich Tern
Wood Pigeon
Eurasian Collared Dove
Laughing Dove
Laughing Dove (young). Playa Blanca. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Plain Swift
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Hoopoe
Lesser Short-toed Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Berthelot´s Pipit
Yellow Wagtail
Common Redstart
Northern Wheatear
Song Thrush
Spectacled Warbler
Wood Warbler
Willow Warbler
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Southern Grey Shrike
Common Raven
Spanish Sparrow
Common Linnet
Trumpeter Finch
Sunday, April 26, 2009 - THE RED-BILLED TROPICBIRDS AT PUERTO DEL CARMEN
by Francisco Javier García Vargas and Antonio Unquiles Cobos
During the morning of April 26, I received a phone call from Colin Guy communicating the presence of 2 Red-billed Tropicbirds near Puerto del Carmen harbour. I phoned quickly to Antonio Unquiles, who was near the area and we met there with Colin. At the time of our arrival, the birds have left the place and Colin showed us some pictures in his camera.
But few minutes later, the birds was there again and what was our surprise to find that a third bird appeared.
This was one of the most wanted add to our list and we want to thank Colin Guy for giving us the information very quickly. Colin, we are indebted to you !!!
NEW
-27/IV/2009 NEWS:
The birds were seen at the same place at 10.00 (Colin Guy) and 3 birds at 11.30 (F. J. García Vargas)
-28/IV/2009 NEWS:
2 birds seen flyng over a rocks 200 m. south of the first place at 10.45. 3 birds flying south to the cliffs near Puerto del Carmen harbour at 11.50 and 2 birds flying near the same rocks between 12.00 and 12.10 (F. J. García Vargas)
28/IV/2009 NEW PICS
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
26/IV/2009 PICS
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Red-billed Tropicbird. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Thursday, April 9, 2009 - MARCH 2009 LANZAROTE REPORT
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
On March 2009, a new species has been added to our list:Pomarine Skua (3 birds that I observed from Arrecife coast on 18/III and 2 birds seen from the same place on 25/III).
Rarities seen this month include Mediterranean Gull (1 bird I saw at Arrecife on 12/III), Little Gull (1 bird I observed at Arrecife on 25/III) and Crag Martin (3 birds seen by A. Unquiles at Arrecife on 24/III).
About rare and scarce migrants, seawatching from Arrecife coast has given the greatest joys of the month: Northern Gannet (3 birds on 18/III, 22 birds on 22/III and an undetermined number of birds on 25 and 29/III), Great Cormorant (1 bird on 25/III), Arctic Skua (1 bird on 22/III and 1 bird harassing two Sandwich Terns on 29/III), Great Skua (1 bird on 08/III) and Kittiwake (1 1st winter on 18/III and another roosting into a flock of about 100 Sandwich Terns on 29/III).
Apart from this, the Common Coot was seen last time at Tías golf course on 24/III and a very poor migration only gave 5 Little Riged Plovers at Janubio on 11/III, and 1 bird in the farm at Famara plains on 20 and 22/III), 1 Wood Pigeon near Teguise golf course on 29/III and 5 European Bee-eaters at Famara plains on 24/III as most interesting observations.
MARCH 2009 COMPLETE LIST
Cory´s Shearwater
Northern Gannet
Great Cormorant
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Common Kestrel
Common Coot
Houbara Bustard
Black-winged Stilt
Stone-curlew
Stone-curlew (chick). Los Ancones. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Stone-curlew (chick). Los Ancones. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Stone-curlew (chick). Los Ancones. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Little Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover. Famara plains. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Grey Plover
Sanderling
Little Stint
Dunlin
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Common Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Pomarine Skua
Arctic Skua
Great Skua
Mediterranean Gull
Little Gull
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Kittiwake
Sandwich Tern
Wood Pigeon
Wood Pigeon. Teguise. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Wood Pigeon. Teguise. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Eurasian Collared Dove
Laughing Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet
Ring-necked Parakeet. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Ring-necked Parakeet. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Plain Swift
European Bee-eater
European Bee-eater. Famara plains. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Sunday, March 8, 2009 - FEBRUARY 2009 LANZAROTE REPORT
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
On February 2009, three new species were added to our list: Great Skua (1 bird seen by J. Sagardía in a pelagic trip to the Chinijo Archipelago (islets at north of Lanzarote) on 14/II). In the same trip, two Little Gulls were seen and some Kittiwakes too. A corpse was found with another live bird by J. Sagardía at Janubio salt pans on 11/II and I could observe three Kittiwakes at Arrecife on 24/II and two birds flying over the sea from La Santa coast on 26/II.
About rarities, the only remarkable was the presence of the Mediterranean Gulls at Arrecife (3 birds on 01/II, 2 birds on 06/II and 4 birds on 24/II).
About rare and scarce migrants and wintering birds, the most interesting of the month was: Black-necked Grebe (4 birds were at Janubio on 22/II, moulting to summer plumage), Northern Gannet (I could see birds in good numbers with very bad weather from Arrecife coast on 01/II and 4 birds at the same place on 06/II), White Stork (a flock of 9 birds was seen by A. Unquiles flying high over Guatiza on 23/II), Eurasian Spoonbill (2 birds at Arrecife on 06/II), Common Coot (the bird at Tías golf course was there until at least 24/II), the Eurasian Oystercatcher near El Golfo coast and Grey Wagtails at Arrecife.
Finally, the presence of 3 Yellow Wagtails at the farm at Famara plains on 26/II is the first sign of a timid start of passerine migration.
FEBRUARY 2009 COMPLETE LIST
Black-necked Grebe
Cory´s Shearwater
Northern Gannet
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Grey Heron
White Stork
White Stork. Guatiza. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Eurasian Spoonbill
Osprey
Osprey. Montaña Clara. Photo: J. Sagardía
Common Kestrel
Barbary Falcon
Barbary Partridge
Barbary Partridge. Los Ancones. Photo: J. Sagardía
Common Coot
Houbara Bustard
Houbara Bustard. Los Ancones. Photo: J. Sagardía
Houbara Bustard. Los Ancones. Photo: J. Sagardía
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Black-winged Stilt
Stone-curlew
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Grey Plover
Sanderling
Little Stint
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Common Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Great Skua
Great Skua. Chinijo Archipelago sea. Photo: J. Sagardía
Mediterranean Gull
Little Gull
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Kittiwake
Kittiwake. Chinijo Archipelago sea. Photo: J. Sagardía
Kittiwake. Chinijo Archipelago sea. Photo: J. Sagardía
Kittiwake. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Kittiwake. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Sandwich Tern
Eurasian Collared Dove
Laughing Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet
Hoopoe
Lesser Short-toed Lark
Lesser Short-toed Lark. Los Ancones. Photo: J. Sagardía
Sunday, February 8, 2009 - JANUARY 2009 LANZAROTE REPORT
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
On January 2009, a new species have been added to our list of birds observed in Lanzarote: Glaucous Gull (1 adult bird was seen at Arrecife on 26/I). Photographs of the bird can be seen here. I was informed of the presence of an adult Glaucous Gull at Playa Blanca on 28/I (COLIN GUY, in litt.) and Juan Antonio Lorenzo informs in his blog CANARY ISLANDS BIRD NEWS about an adult Glaucous Gull at Fuerteventura on 30/I. In my opinion, this three records refer the same bird moving south from Arrecife and reaching Fuerteventura four days after.
On the other hand, we aren´t going to add Herring Gull to our list, because there are many doubts about its correct identification currently.
Other rarities observed were: Mediterranean Gulls, which have stayed all month at Arrecife and remained there on February, Ring-billed Gull (1 1st. winter bird was seen at Arrecife on 10 and 17/I. A record shot of the bird can be seen here) and Audouin´s Gulls (1 bird at Arrecife on 10/I (F. J. García Vargas), 9 birds at Puerto del Carmen on 14/I (F. J. García Vargas), 3 birds at Puerto del Carmen on 15/I (F. J. García Vargas), 2 birds at Puerto del Carmen on 17/I (J. Sagardía) and 2 birds at Puerto del Carmen and 7 birds at Arrecife on 18/I (F. J. García Vargas).
About scarce winter visitors the most interesting was the following: Black-necked Grebe (6 birds at Janubio, seen last time on 29/I and probably remaining there in February), Eurasian Spoonbill (birds at Arrecife: 1 on 10/I, 1 on 18/I, 2 on 25/I, 1 on 29/I and 2 birds remaining there in February), Eurasian Wigeon (1 bird I observed at Tías golf course on 23/I, beeing the first bird we see in several years. This bird has remained there into February), Common Teal (2 birds at Janubio on 09 and 18/I), Common Coot (the bird at Tías golf course looks set to spend the winter here, staying there into February), Eurasian Oystercatcher (1 bird near El Golfo coast on 29/I), Little Stint (2 birds wintering at Los Cocoteros salt pans), Black-tailed Godwit (1 bird at Los Cocoteros salt pans on 31/I), Eurasian Curlew (1 bird at Janubio on 18/I), Green Sandpiper (1 bird at Los Cocoteros on 04/I and 1 bird at Arrecife on 26/I), Grey Wagtail at Arrecife and European Greenfinch (1 bird at Arrecife on 29/I and 8 birds at Teguise on 31/I).
JANUARY 2009 COMPLETE LIST
Black-necked Grebe
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Eurasian Spoonbill
Eurasian Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Eurasian Wigeon. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Eurasian Wigeon. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Common Teal
Common Kestrel
Barbary Partridge
Common Coot
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Eurasian Oystercatcher (with Grey Plover). Near El Golfo coast. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Black-winged Stilt
Stone-curlew
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Grey Plover
Sanderling
Little Stint
Dunlin
Black-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Eurasian Curlew
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Mediterranean Gull
Black-headed Gull
Black-headed Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Audouin´s Gull
Audouin´s Gull. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: J. Sagardía
Ring-billed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Glaucous Gull
Sandwich Tern
Eurasian Collared Dove
Laughing Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet
Hoopoe
Lesser Short-toed Lark
Sky Lark
Sky Lark. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Sky Lark. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Sky Lark. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Monday, January 26, 2009 - GLAUCOUS AND HERRING GULLS AT ARRECIFE (LANZAROTE)
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
On 26/I I could observe a beautiful adult Glaucous Gull at Arrecife. The bird was roosting into a big flock of Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed Gulls on a reef at about 200 meters from where I was. The distance, the strong wind and my clumsiness with digiscoping (it´s not made for me!!!) made me only get these horrific pics. I´m going to try to relocate this superb bird to take better photos of it. It is a first for our personal list of birds observed in Lanzarote. There is only a previous record (not submitted) of Glaucous Gull at Lanzarote, so it will be (if accepted) the second record for the island.
Very close to the Glaucous Gull, I could detect an adult Herring Gull, a vagrant to the Canary Islands with only a few records. This is another first for our list and the first record for Lanzarote too.
JANUARY 2009: A GOOD MONTH FOR GULLS IN LANZAROTE
by Francisco Javier García Vargas and Juan Sagardía Pradera
Besides the Glaucous and the Herring Gulls, some interesting observations on gulls have been made at Lanzarote on January 2009.
The Mediterranean Gulls (at least 5 birds) have been all winter at Arrecife. 2 birds are ringed, one with a red ring (we could not read it yet) and the other with a green ring with the white chapters "1X5". This is the history of the bird:
1X5LeftpullusParisFS6321203/07/2008Barbâtre, Polder de Sebastopol, Vendée, FRANCE46,56N 2,09W
ringed by team Matthieu Vaslin
vv17/01/20091X5Arrecife, Lanzarote Canary Islands, SPAIN28,57N 13,33WSagardia Pradera, Juan
On 09/I, a first-winter Ring-billed Gull was seen at Arrecife (F. J. García Vargas) and relocated there on 17/I by Juan Sagardía Pradera. This is only our second record of this species in Lanzarote. Details and pics of the first record can be seen here.
Finally, a spectacular flock of 9 Audouin´s Gulls was detected at Puerto del Carmen on 14/I. The birds have been moving around the east coast and for example, 2 birds were at Puerto del Carmen and 7 birds were seen at Arrecife few minutes later on 18/I.
Glaucous Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Glaucous Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Glaucous Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Glaucous Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Glaucous Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Glaucous Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Herring Gull (with Glaucous Gull and Yellow-legged Gull). Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Mediterranean Gull. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía
Mediterranean Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Audouin´s Gull. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Audouin´s Gull. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Audouin´s Gull. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Audouin´s Gull. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: J. Sagardía
Audouin´s Gull. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía
Ring-billed Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 - DECEMBER 2008 LANZAROTE REPORT
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
On a December month without remarkable surprises, we haven´t added any new species to our list.
About rarities, the most interesting was the Mediterranean Gulls (at least 5 birds) detected at Arrecife on November and seen last time there on 12/XII. Probably all the birds or part of them have stayed there into January. A Fieldfare was seen at El Bosquecillo on 07 and 08/XII.
About rare and scarce migrants, Black-necked Grebes have been observed at Janubio salt pans (4 birds on 22/XII, 3 birds on 25/XII, 6 birds (the highest number ever seen) observed by J. Sagardía on 28/XII and again 4 birds on 29/XII), Common Teals were seen at Janubio salt pans too (3 birds on 05/XII, 3 birds on 13/XII, 2 birds on 25/XII, 4 birds on 28/XII and 2 birds on 29/XII), Eurasian Marsh Harrier (1 bird at Haría on 07/XII), Lesser Kestrel (1 bird near Los Cocoteros salt pans and 1 bird at Famara plains (J. Sagardía) on 04/XII and 8 birds at Montaña Blanca (J. Sagardía) on 26/XII), Common Coot (the bird at Tías golf course have remained there into January), Eurasian Oystercatcher (1 bird at Janubio on 22/XII), Red Knot at Janubio, Little Stint (birds at Los Cocoteros and Janubio), Curlew Sandpiper (birds at Janubio), Eurasian Curlew (1 bird at Janubio on 22/XII), Green Sandpiper (1 bird at Arrecife on 07/XII), Great Black-backed Gull (1 1st. c.y. bird observed by J. Sagardía at Arrecife on 05/XII), Meadow Pipits have been observed in low numbers at Tías golf course, Grey Wagtails at Arrecife, Black Redstarts at El Bosquecillo on 07/XII and 3 birds that I observed at Caleta de Sebo-La Graciosa on 21/XII, Redwings at El Bosquecillo, Teguise and Los Valles, European Serin (2 or 3 birds at El Bosquecillo on 07/XII) and European Greenfinch (7 birds near Teguise golf course on 04/XII).
About breeding birds, is interesting the observation made by J. Sagardía of about 30 nests of Little Shearwater and about 60 nests of Madeiran Storm-petrel near El Golfo coast.
DECEMBER 2008 COMPLETE LIST
Black-necked Grebe
Black-necked Grebe. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Black-necked Grebe. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Little Shearwater
Madeiran Storm-petrel
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Common Teal
Common Teal. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Common Teal. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Eurasian Marsh Harrier
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Barbary Falcon
Barbary Partridge
Common Coot
Houbara Bustard
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Black-winged Stilt
Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover (partially albino bird). Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Ringed Plover (partially albino bird). Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Kentish Plover
Grey Plover
Grey Plover. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Red Knot
Sanderling
Little Stint
Little Stint. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Curlew Sandpiper
Dunlin
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Eurasian Curlew
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Mediterranean Gull
Mediterranean Gull. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía
Mediterranean Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Mediterranean Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía
Sandwich Tern
Eurasian Collared Dove
Laughing Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet
Hoopoe
Lesser Short-toed Lark
Berthelot´s Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Grey Wagtail
White Wagtail
European Robin
Black Redstart
Black Redstart. El Bosquecillo-Haría. Photo: J. Sagardía
Fieldfare
Fieldfare. El Bosquecillo-Haría. Photo: F. J. García Vargas (only record shot)
Fieldfare. El Bosquecillo-Haría. Photo: F. J. García Vargas (only record shot)
Song Thrush
Song Thrush. El Bosquecillo-Haría. Photo: J. Sagardía
Redwing
Redwing. El Bosquecillo-Haría (bird at flight: near Teguise golf course). Photos: J. Sagardía
Spectacled Warbler
Spectacled Warbler. El Bosquecillo-Haría. Photo: J. Sagardía
Sardinian Warbler (many singing males that I observed at Caleta de Sebo-La Graciosa on 21/XII)
Blackcap (including 1 female that I observed at Caleta de Sebo-La Graciosa on 21/XII)
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 - NOVEMBER 2008 LANZAROTE REPORT
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
On November 2008, two new species have been added to our list: Semipalmated Sandpiper (1 bird present at Tías golf course between 01 and 04/XI). A photopage of this bird can be seen here. Eurasian Woodcock (1 bird observed by F. J. García Vargas and A. Unquiles Cobos at Los Valles on 23/XI).
About other rarities, 5 Mediterranean Gulls were detected at Arrecife on 15/XI and our second Yellow-browed Warbler was present at Uga between 02 and at least 16/XI. A photopage of this bird can be seen here.
About rare and scarce migrants, 1 Common Teal was observed at Tías golf course on 01/XI and another was present at Janubio salt pans on 16 and 21/XI. 1 Common Buzzard was seen at Famara plains on 09/XI and I observed 4 Lesser Kestrels at Haría the same day. 1 Common Coot was observed at Tías golf course on 16/XI, remaining there into December. This is our second Common Coot at Lanzarote and the first was seen last year, after a century without records of this species in the island.
1 Eurasian Oystercatcher was seen at Janubio salt pans on 02/XI, Little Stints were present at Janubio and Los Cocoteros salt pans, 1 Green Sandpiper was observed at Tías golf course between 20 and 22/XI, 1 Wood Sandpiper was observed at Los Cocoteros on 06/XI and 1 Grey Wagtail was seen at Arrecife on 15/XI.
3 Ring Ouzels were observed at El Bosquecillo (Haría) on 09/XI. These birds were detected there by Gerardo García Casanova (AVES EN CANARIAS) on 08/XI. I would like to thank him for the information. This is a very good year for Ring Ouzels in Lanzarote, because I observed 2 birds at Los Valles on 09/XI, and a new bird was observed by F. J. García Vargas and A. Unquiles Cobos at La Florida on 23/XI. This last bird was detected there by A. Unquiles Cobos some days before.
NOVEMBER 2008 COMPLETE LIST
Cory´s Shearwater
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Common Teal
Common Teal. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Common Buzzard
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Barbary Falcon
Common Coot
Common Coot. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Black-winged Stilt
Stone-curlew
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Grey Plover
Sanderling
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Semipalmated Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Semipalmated Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Semipalmated Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Little Stint
Curlew Sandpiper
Dunlin
Eurasian Woodcock
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Mediterranean Gull
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Sandwich Tern
Eurasian Collared Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet
Barn Owl
Barn Owl. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Barn Owl. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Hoopoe
Lesser Short-toed Lark
Sky Lark
Berthelot´s Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Grey Wagtail
White Wagtail
European Robin
Ring Ouzel
Ring Ouzel. El Bosquecillo-Haría. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Ring Ouzel. El Bosquecillo-Haría. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Song Thrush
Yellow-browed Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler. Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Common Chiffchaff
Common Chiffchaff. Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Monday, November 3, 2008 - THE YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER AT UGA, LANZAROTE
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
In the evening of 02/XI/2008, I detected a little warbler in a garden inside a property at the village of Uga, south of Lanzarote. I could confirm that it was a Yellow-browed Warbler, but I could not take photographs of the bird because the light was very poor. I went to Uga again in the morning of 03/XI and the bird was at the same place. Taking photos of this bird was very difficult because I was behind a wooden fence. This is our second record of Yellow-browed Warbler at Lanzarote, after the bird seen at Puerto del Carmen on February 2008 (there is photopage of this bird here).
NEW
The bird was still present on 04/XI when I went there with Antonio Unquiles and our good friend Juan José Ramos Melo (BIRDING CANARIAS), who came from Tenerife and twitched the Semipalmated Sandpiper and the Yellow-browed Warbler. We could obtain new pics of the bird.
04/XI/2008 PICTURES
Yellow-browed Warbler. Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Yellow-browed Warbler. Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Yellow-browed Warbler. Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Yellow-browed Warbler. Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Yellow-browed Warbler. Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
03/XI/2008 PICTURES
Yellow-browed Warbler. Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Yellow-browed Warbler. Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Saturday, November 1, 2008 - THE SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER AT TÍAS GOLF COURSE-FIRST FOR LANZAROTE
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
In the morning of 01/XI/2008, under a very bad weather with strong wind and rain, I detected a Semipalmated Sandpiper in one of the shores of the dump at Tías golf course. With this very bad weather and with a very poor light, I could take some pics of the bird, but the rain made me go back home. In the afternoon, the sun was shining and I went again to the golf course, taking better photographs of the bird.
This is (if accepted) the first record of Semipalmated Sandpiper for Lanzarote and the eastern side of the Canary Islands.
Semipalmated Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Semipalmated Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Semipalmated Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Semipalmated Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Semipalmated Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Semipalmated Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Semipalmated Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Saturday, November 1, 2008 - OCTOBER 2008 LANZAROTE REPORT
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
This month, about rarities, one Pectoral Sandpiper was seen at Janubio salt pans on 15/X, increasing to 2 birds on 21/X, remaining one bird there until at least 26/X. The Wilson´s Phalarope was seen last time at Janubio salt pans on 21/X and the Blue Rock Thrush was seen again on 06 and 21/X, when I obtained one (horrible) pic of it.
About scarce migrants, ducks have started to arrive, with 1 Common Teal seen by A. Unquiles at Janubio salt pans on 07/X and another bird I observed at Tías golf course on 26/X, remaining there into November. At Tías golf course too, I observed 1 Northern Pintail on 19 and 20/X. 1 Montagu´s Harrier was found dead at San Bartolomé on 13/X. 1 Common Moorhen was seen at Tías golf course between 01 and 20/X. 1 Eurasian Oystercatcher was at Janubio salt pans all month staying there into November, 1 Little Ringed Plover was seen at Tías golf course on 19 and 20/X, 1 European Golden Plover was observed at Tías golf course on 05/X, Red Knots were seen at Janubio and La Santa, Little Stints at Janubio and Los Cocoteros salt pans, Curlew Sandpipers at Janubio and Los Cocoteros, Ruffs at Janubio and Tías golf course, 1 Eurasian Curlew at Órzola on 22/X and 1 Wood Sandpiper at Los Cocoteros salt pans on 18 and 22/X. Another interesting observations was 1 Sand Martin at Tías golf course on 19/X, Tree Pipits at Tías golf course, Grey Wagtails at Arrecife and Tías golf course, Whinchat (1 bird I observed at Tías golf course on 01/X and some birds seen by J. Sagardía at Famara plains on 02 and 04/X), 1 Eurasian Reed Warbler seen by J. Sagardía at Janubio on 01/X, 1 Western Bonelli´s Warbler I saw at Arrecife on 03/X and 2 European Goldfinchs that I observed at Arrecife on 24/X.
OCTOBER 2008 COMPLETE LIST
Cory´s Shearwater
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Common Teal
Northern Pintail
Montagu´s Harrier
Common Kestrel
Eleonora´s Falcon
Barbary Falcon
Barbary Partridge
Common Moorhen
Common Moorhen. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Eurasian Oystercatcher. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Black-winged Stilt
Stone-curlew
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
European Golden Plover
European Golden Plover. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Grey Plover
Red Knot
Red Knot. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Sanderling
Little Stint
Pectoral Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Pectoral Sandpiper. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Pectoral Sandpiper. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Curlew Sandpiper
Dunlin
Ruff
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Eurasian Curlew
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Wilson´s Phalarope
Wison´s Phalarope. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Wison´s Phalarope. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Wison´s Phalarope. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Wison´s Phalarope. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Wison´s Phalarope. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Sandwich Tern
Eurasian Collared Dove
European Turtle Dove
Laughing Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet
Plain Swift
Hoopoe
Lesser Short-toed Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Berthelot´s Pipit
Tree Pipit
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
White Wagtail
European Robin
Black Redstart
Whinchat
Whinchat. Famara plains. Photo. J. Sagardía
Northern Wheatear
Blue Rock Thrush
Blue Rock Thrush. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Eurasian Reed Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Subalpine Warbler
Common Whitethroat
Western Bonelli´s Warbler
Willow Warbler
Willow Warbler (with Pied Flycatcher). Yaiza. Photo: J. Sagardía. This is migration!
Sunday, October 5, 2008 - AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2008 LANZAROTE REPORT
by Francisco Javier García Vargas
First of all I would like to say that there is little information about August because the whole team of BIRDINGLANZAROTE has been on vacation out of the island most of the month.
The only remarkable from August was the presence of 2 Eurasian Oystercatchers detected by A. Unquiles Cobos at Janubio at the end of the month (remaining there into September) and the first Willow Warblers of the autumn migration seen by the same observer.
About September, two new species have been added to our list: Wilson´s Phalarope (1 bird detected by F. J. García Vargas and A. Unquiles Cobos on 24/IX at Janubio salt pans, remaining there into October). This is our "bird of the month" and a special photopage of it can be seen here.
Another new species for our list was Blue Rock Thrush (1 bird that I observed on 26/IX at Janubio was a very amazing record but I couldn´t take photos).
About another rarities, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper was observed by F. J. García Vargas and A. Unquiles Cobos at Tías golf course between 07 and 16/IX, beeing our fourth personal record for the island and the third consecutive at Tías golf course (details and photos of the first two records can be seen here and of the 2007 bird here).
In relation to scarce migrants, the most interesting was: Eurasian Oystercatcher (2 birds were present at Janubio salt pans until at least 07/IX, remaining one bird into October), Red Knot (group of 5 birds at Janubio salt pans since 27/IX and staying there into October), Little Stint (birds at Janubio), Curlew Sandpiper (birds at Janubio too), Ruff (birds at Tías golf course, with 3 birds there on 26/IX), Eurasian Curlew (1 bird I saw at Janubio salt pans on 28/IX), Green Sandpiper (1 bird I observed at Tías golf course on 13/IX), Wood Sandpiper (1 bird I detected at Los Cocoteros salt pans on 10/IX), Alpine Swift (1 bird I saw at Puerto del Carmen on 28/IX), and the passage of passerines with observations of Tree Pipits at Janubio and Tías golf course, Eurasian Reed Warbler at Puerto del Carmen and Janubio and European Goldfinch (some birds I saw at Puerto del Carmen on 26/IX) among others.
SEPTEMBER 2008 COMPLETE LIST
Cory´s Shearwater
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Common Kestrel
Barbary Falcon
Barbary Partridge
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Black-winged Stilt
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Grey Plover
Red Knot
Sanderling
Sanderling. Janubio salt pans. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Little Stint
Pectoral Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Pectoral Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Pectoral Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Pectoral Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Pectoral Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Pectoral Sandpiper. Tías golf course. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Curlew Sandpiper
Dunlin
Ruff
Ruff. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Eurasian Curlew
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sadpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Wilson´s Phalarope
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Sandwich Tern
Eurasian Collared Dove
European Turtle Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet
Plain Swift
Pallid Swift
Alpine Swift
Hoopoe
Lesser Short-toed Lark
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Berthelot´s Pipit
Tree Pipit
Yellow Wagtail
White Wagtail
Blue Rock Thrush
Eurasian Reed Warbler
Eurasian Reed Warbler. Janubio salt pans. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Francisco Javier García Vargas, Juan Sagardía Pradera and Antonio Unquiles Cobos have been birdwatching in Lanzarote (Canary Islands) the last six years, making a list of the birds observed in the island since 2002. In this blog we show the results of our observations on breeding birds, passage migrants, winter visitors and vagrants of the island.
On the other hand, we try this blog can help to all birdwatchers who want to visit Lanzarote.
Greater Scaup-Aythya marila-Porrón Bastardo
Collared Pratincole. Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Curlew Sandpiper (with Dunlins). Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Curlew Sandpiper (with Dunlins). Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Dunlin. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Ruff (with Dunlins). Famara plains. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Gull-billed Tern. Famara plains. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Gull-billed Tern. Famara plains. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Gull-billed Tern. Famara plains. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Gull-billed Tern. Famara plains. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Gull-billed Tern. Famara plains. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Gull-billed Tern. Famara plains. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Laughing Dove (young). Playa Blanca. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Glaucous Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Mediterranean Gull. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía
Mediterranean Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Audouin´s Gull. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Audouin´s Gull. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas 
Audouin´s Gull. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía
Ring-billed Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
